Decorative light



June 3, 1941.= P. c. DITTMAN Erm. 2,244,101

DECORATIVE LIGHT Filed Jan. 27, 193s.

Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED Si''A'I'pl'frS l OFFICE.

` 2,244,101 fr. DECORATIVE LIGHT Paul C. Dittman and Arthur Stechbart, Chicago,

Ill., assignors `to lVIatchless Electric Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Y Application January 27, lsaa'seriai No. 253,033

The present invention relates to ornamental lighting devices, such as Christmas tree lights, and has for its principal object the provision of a novel enclosure construction for a lamp bulb by which an illuminated star-shaped ornament may be produced that will be illuminated throughout substantially the entire surface thereof. Y

The present invention contemplates the provision of a lamp bulb and enclosure structure wherein the entire enclosure may be constructed of light transmitting material such as glass or the synthetic resin compounds which have a certain degree of transparency.

One form of the invention is embodied in a construction wherein a lamp bulb is housed between two side plates, which in turn support a plurality of pyramidal elements which form the points of a star. The construction is such that the pyramidal elements are secured to the side plates which are clamped together to produce an enclosure for the lamp bulb. i Y

Y The features and advantages of our invention will appear more fully asthe description prooeeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred form of the invention is shown. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing and description are illustrative only and are not to be taken as limiting the invention, except insofar as it is limited by the claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of a starshaped ornament embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the side plates showing the inner surface thereof, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2. i

Referring now to the drawing, the present device embodies an enclosure made up of 'two side plates IU and I l, ve pyramidal elements, I2, I3, I4, I5 and i6, a lamp bulb I1, a stem`l8, and suitable securingimembers VI9 and 20.

The side plates I and II and the pyramidal elements I2, I3, I4, l and i6 are made of a suitable light transmitting material such as glass or one of the more or less transparent forms of synthetic resins. The material may be frosted or colored, or coated with coloring material or nuorescent material to produce any desired shades. Alternatively, the coloring may be Vapplied to the lamp bulb I'I, if desired.

Each side plate has a plurality of recesses 2|. The posts 2id between recesses are tapered to providel sulcient draft for removing the plates -from thel molds.n In addition, the inner faces ofthe side plates are hollowed out, as indicated at 22,'to provide a hollow space to receive the lamp bulb Il.

The pyramidal elements have reduced polygonal inner end portions 24 (see Fig. 6) which are adaptedl to be received in the complementary recesses 2l on the two side plates It and II. Where the stem I8 of the lamp bulb passes between 'the side plates IU and il, the walls of the side plates'are cut away, as shown at 25 in Figs. 3 and 5, to provide space for the stem i8. In addition, Vitu is necessary to cut ofi the adjacent pyramidal elements I2 and I3, as indicated at 26 and 2l, to provide clearance for the stern I8. The stem I8 preferably has a rectangular upper portion28 so that the surfaces at 25, 2S and''i may be'made iiat. W'hensecured together, the elements I2 and I3 and the side plates EQ and l! serve tohold the stem IB firmly in place and prevent its rotation with respect to the enclosure. The enclosure may be held in the hand to screw the lamp stem into a socket. The stem is so positioned that light from the center of the enclosure -formed by the transparent plates and pyramidal elements is not cut off from the elements I2 and I3.

The construction of the lamp bulb and stem is shown most completely in Fig. 3. The lamp bulb I'I has a filament B therein. This filament is mounted upon two lead-in wires 3| and 32 which are spaced by a bead 33. The bulb Il is provided with a reduced tip 3d that extends down` screwshell 35 and a metal tip 3l of the usual construction. y

As shown, the depressions 22 in the side Walls I and II; are suiiiciently large to provide an air space around the bulb II. Also, the reduced inner end portions 24 ofthe pyramidal elements terminate at a distance from the lamp bulb so as to provide space for air circulation around the faces of the side plates I and II andneed Ilot` be otherwise secured. Stiff spring material vis preferable, since it will yield to permit a limited freedom of movement of the pyramidal elements and pull them back into proper position.`

The members 2U comprise s'pringcl'ar'nps whichV are substantially U -shaped and which Yhave in. turned prongs 4I and 42 (see Fig. 4). The inturned prongs 4I and. 42 hook over shoulders 43 and ll provided upon the side plates I0 and II. YThe members may be removed by forcing the out-turned ends 45 and 46 thereof outwardly until the prongs 4I and 42 clear the shoulders 43 and d. The members 20 are located between the several pyramidal elements except at the point where the stem I8 projects from the enclosure.

The assembly of the device is quite simple. The several pyramidal elements are threaded together upon the wire member I9 and are then placed upon a plate Ill or II with their inner portions 24 in the corresponding recess 2I of' this plate. A lamp bulb is then laid in place with the stem between the elements I2 and I3, and the otherV side plate is pressed down over the lamp bulb to complete the enclosure. The clamp members 20 are then forced over the side edges of the side plates Il] and II to hold the parts assembled.

The pyramidal elements have a :multiplicity of triangular faces and for the purpose of ornamentation the side plates may be formed to provide similar surfaces extending inwardly from the junction with the pyramidal elements. The surface configuration of the side plates and the pyramidal elements may be varied, however, to produce different effects within the scope of the present invention. It will be noted that the several translucent elements joinV eachl other without the interposition of opaque frames or plates. This gives a maximum freedom from shadows and dark lines.

From the above description, it is believed that the construction and advantages of this device will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art. Y

Having thus described our inventiomwhat we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An ornamental display device comprising in combination a plurality of light transmitting elements shaped to simulate the points lof a star, said elements being arranged radially about a common center with their inner ends spaced apart to receive a lamp bulb therebetween, said elements having reduced mounting portions at their inner ends, and a pair of opposed Alight transmitting side plate elements each having a plurality of recesses in its inner face to receive the reduced portions of said first named elements, and to receive the stem of a lamp bulb, said side plate elements having depressions in springtclips, located between adjacent tapering Velenieritsand extending over the edges of the Vside plates..

A3; ornamental light transmitting and difiusing enclosure f or a lamp `'bulb comprising in combination two opposed light transmitting side plates secured together and hollowed out on their inner faces to receive a lamp bulb, and having aligned recesses in their inner faces for receiving a lamp bul-b stem, pyramidal light transmitting elements projecting radially from the peripheral edges of said sideplates and secured to the side plates. t

4. An ornamental light transmitting and diffusing enclosure for a lamp bulb comprising in combination two opposed light transmitting side plates secured together and hollowed out on their inner faces to receive a lamp bulb, and having aligned recesses in their inner faces for receiving a lamp bulbi stem, pyramidal light transmitting elements projecting radially from the peripheral edges of said side plates and secured tothe side plates, said elements having reduced polygonal inner end portions and said side plates having opposed Vrecesses in their inner 'facesto receive said portions.

5. An ornamental light transmitting and dif fusing enclosure for a lamp bulb comprising in combination two opposed light transmitting ,side plates secured together and hollowed out on their inner faces to receive a lamp bulb, and having aligned recesses in their inner faces for receiving a lamp bulb stem, ,pyramidal light transmitting elements projecting radially from the peripheral edges of said side plates and secured to the side plates, said elements having reduced polygonal inner end portions and said side plates having opposed recesses in their inner faces to receive said portions, and said inner end portions having a wire threaded through them.

6. An ornamental light transmitting and diffusing enclosure for a lamp bulb comprising in combination two opposed light transmitting side plates secured together and having aligned recesses in their inner Vfaces for receiving a lamp bulb'stem, pyramidal light transmitting elements projecting radially from the peripheral edges of said side plates and secured'to the side plates.

7. A light transmitting ornamental enclosure fora lamp bulb comprising an annular series of radially extending light transmitting elements, aA stii resilient retaining wire connecting the inner ends of said elements and a hollow light transmitting body having an annular s eries of holes in which the inner ends of said elementsV are mounted'and 'one of said holes providing an entry for a lamp stem.

PAUL C. DIT'I'MAN. ARTHUR s'rncnBAR'r.V 

